Combination shock absorber and extension leg



FQONKLIN w 2,238,411" GOIBIIA'I'ION SHOCK ABSORBER AND EXTENSION LEG I Filed Jun 28,1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 )a' FrzZ 6072722271 vmyamilii ATTORNEYS April 15, 1941. F. CONKLIN v 2,

COMBINATION SHOCK ABSORBER AND EXTENSION LEG v Filed Jun 2a,- 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet? myzn-ron AITORNEYS .Fr-ezi fian'itlin" F. CONKLI N April 15, 1941.

couazn-r lon snocx ABSORBER AND mansion, LEG

4 Sheets-She'et 3 Film; June 28, 1939 F1. I I Illnk I Frd flan/(Zia INVENTOR ATTORNEYS CONKLIN CdllBIIAIION SHOCK-ABSORBER AND EXTENSION LEG Filed Jun 28', 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' Traci 60122621551 A'ITORN EYS tion.

UNITED. STATE OFFICE ooiuama'rion snoox momma AND nx'mnsron LEG FredConklimLos Angeles, Calif. 4 Application June as. 1939, Serial 'No. 281,757

3 The invention relates to a leg construction and more especially to a combination shock absorber and extension leg. The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the same can be used in connection with landing gear of aircraft, drilling machines, or for any other purposes requiring a support, and is suceptible of being extended, this being necessary in its use with landing gear or with a drilling machine for the extending or contracting of the landing gear and for the holding of the drilling machine to the work, the device being susceptible of absorbing shocks and jars incident to the use thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the construction thereof is novel in its entirety and is susceptible for a variety of uses, as for example, in holding various parts of an assembly in position while being fabricated and is susceptible of assuming any required position and in position will absorb any shocks or jars incident to its use.

the device being especially adaptable for service with drilling machines when operating the same overhead to maintain the machine in working position. l

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and (Cl. 254-148) v 1 Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified form of leg.

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a friction clamp for use with the leg.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken, on the line 9-9 ofFigure 8 looking in the direction of the arrows.

' Figure 10 is a side elevation of a further modiflcation of the invention, showing the use thereof in association with landing gear for aircraft. Figure 11 is a sectional viewtaken on. the line ll'-li of Figure 10 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a sectional view on the line l2-i2 of Figure 11 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on the line ll'-l'3 of Figure 11 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, particularly Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the leg construci tion therein illustrated comprises an outer upper eillcient in operation, readily and easily adjusted for the extending or contractingithereof, assuring a shock absorbing support for work, stron durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction,

combination and arrangement of parts as will-be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred and modified forms of the Figure 2 is. a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking. in the'direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 1-4 f Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section, showing a modified form of coupling clampfor the leg.

' embodiment of the invention and pointed out in tubular section it having welded or-otherwise united thereto at its upper end an encircling coupling sleeve II, the weld thereof being indicated at I! and accommodated within this sleeve ii for" abutting theuppermost end of the section It is a coupling collar l3 having removably threaded therein through opposite ends the inner and outer bushings I4 and I5 respectively, the collar being removably joined with the sleeve ll into which it flts by means of a cross bolt l6 carryinga nut l1 and these bushin'gsil-and l5 each ftmctions for the. Joining of the collar l3 with a drilling machine, not shown, the collar i3 being reversible for the adaptability of either bushing ll or II in the ioining of the collar l3 to said drill so that the latter'willbe supported by the leg further described hereinafter.

Telescopioally fitted within the section l0" through the lower open end thereof is the extensible section it. in the lowermost end of which is fixed a spurred foot II and this section it is slidably keyed or splined to a guide ring formation 20, the keyway therein being indicated at 2i and the key or spline at 22 respectively, the latter being formed on the extensible section it and thh formation is-a of an external fitting 28 inter-fitted with the lowermost end of the secshown tion ll. This-lowermost end 24 of the section II is accommodated Within the fitting 23 and is detachably fixed therein by holding screws 2' whichare passed through the fitting and'engaged in the section II as is clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Within the section II between the innermost end of the'section i8 and the collar I3 is a spring supported yoke 26 to which is journaled a pulley 21 and has formed therewith a stem 2! "which is to one of the screws 2| being trained exteriorly of the section II through a clearance II therein. The cable ii is also trained over a pulley I4 journaled at ii in an outstruck portion 38 of the fitting 2t and has its inner end connected to a Windlass 31, its axle ll being iournaled in a bracket 38 externally fixed to the section II adjacent to the upper end thereof. The cable II is adapted to be wound on and unwound from the said windlass 31 so as to extend the section II when said cable is wound upon this windlass and on the unwinding of the cable therefrom'the said section II cannot rotate within the section It when the leg structure is in a supporting position.

The axle 20 for the Windlass 31 is turned by a hand crank II and also has fixed thereto a ratchet gear 40 engageable by a gravity or spring detent or dog 4| pivoted at 42 exteriorly on the section II. Thisdog 4| allows the windlass to be freely turnecl'in one direction and latching it against opposite turning movement. In other words, the detent or dog 4| maintains the cable II wound upon the windlass 81 and against unwinding therefrom. The detent or dog 4| is released from the ratchet gear 40 when the cable II is to be unwound therefrom. This cable .4i trained over the pulleys 21 and 34 and having its outer end fixed with relation to the section III sustains the'section I. under tension and the latter functions for absorbing shocks and iars incident to the use of the leg structure through thefl instrumentality-of-the spring 3| which is seated" against the shoulder 2! and yoke 20 for the pulley 21. I Y

Threaded in the fitting 28 is a set screw 43 which looks the section II against displacement when the said screw binds the spline or key 22 thereof. a

In Figure '4 of the drawings there is shown a modified form of clamp for association with the leg structure in substitute for the coupling collar II and this clamp is bolted at 44 in the sleeve Ii an outer hollowed'section 4| preferably of squared formation in cross section in which slides an extensible section 50 carrying at its outer end a mounting II for suitable connection with work. This extensible section 54 houses therein a displaceable rack 62 which for the major extent thereof is of substantially T-shape in cross section, the remaining extent being in the form of a rounded stem 58, loosely passed through the upper end I4 of the section II and about this stem I3 both above and below the end 34 are coiled compression springs 85 and 58, respectively, these worn at the upper end of the section II, as is,

shown'in Figure 2 of the drawings and includes fixed and movable jaws 45 and 40, respectively, the movable Jaw being adjustably bolted at 41 to the fixed jaw 48, these laws being provided with serrated or biting work engaging faces 4., preferably ofthe formation as shown in said Figure 4 of the drawings. This form of clamp in Figure 4 of the drawings is adaptable for engaging the handle of a drilling machine so that the leg structure will support said drilling machine, not shown, to its work.

'In Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings ther s playing against the end 64 for the tensioning of the rack 62 having the teeth II which mesh with a" rack gear ll journaled in a bracket I9 externally fixed to the section 4|, the later being provided with a clearance for the rack gear It. The axle of the gear II has attached thereto a hand crank 6| for the turning of said gear.

The axle 64 carries a ratchet gear 62 engageable by a double pawl 63 pivoted at 64 in the bracket II and being acted upon by a compressioned spring 65. This pawl 63 in reality functions as an .escapement latch for the ratchet gear 62. On the turning of the rack gear II the section 50 can be extended or contracted with relation to the section 49 and said section ill is at all times maintained under tension by the springs I! and 56 which are for shock absorbing purposes in the use of the legstructure. In Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings there is shown a modified form of the invention, wherein a clamp embraces the portion ll corresponding with the leg I2 of Figure 6, of the leg structure which is similar to the part 4! and this clamp includes a friction latch in the form of a swinging lever 81 pivoted at O8 and this lever is provided with a gripper formed with double binding wings 89 alternately engageable for the holding of the parts of the leg structure either extended relative to each other or contracted. In this manner the leg structure can be used as a load. puller or as a Jack. The clamp is slidable to any desired position on the section 0 when the pressure thereof is released and in this manner allowing a wide range of adiustment. The lever 61 at the pivotal mounting 88 thereof is pivoted to outstruck hangers Ill while the said lever is bifurcated at H to partially accommodate a part annexed thereto of the leg structure. This clamp Just described will accomplish the same results as the rack gear I! and the pawl 02, these coacting with the rack 51 and thus allowing a shortening of the rack yet allowing a considerable extension of the leg structure. The outstruck hangers can be formed on the mounting Ii which is slidable on the section 49 and is susceptible of being adjustably held on the latter.

In Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the drawings there is shown a further modification of the leg structure wherein the outer section It is of hollow formation and squared in cross section. This section 13 interiorly thereof forms a piston chamber 14 for a piston I! at the uppermost end or innermost end of an extensible section 16 having the wheel fork 11 for a wheel II journaled therein. The piston head 15 is provided with a valved air opening 19 which allows air to pass into thea modified form of leg structure involving.

Interiorly-of the section It is a cable sheave so which is displaceable therein and has trained thereover a cable 82, the latter being threaded through the piston head I5 and has the end 83 made fast at the outer end of the section 13, the .other end of said cable being fixed at N to the innermost end of the section 14 and is coiled about a'windlass 85 and trained over pulleys 8O and 81, vrespectively, these being journaled in proper position with relation'to th section 13. The windlass 85 is supported in a bracket ll exteriorily fixed to the section 13 and the winding of the cable 82 uponthis windlass is such that the said'cable will be letout at one side thereof and taken up at the otherside intermediate of its ends 83 and 8. The section 18 has therein a sheave 8| over which is trained the cable 82. Lo-

cated at opposite sides of the piston head I! are coiled compression springs 89 and 80 respectively,

the latter being seated against the sheave ll block and the said piston head while the spring This leg structure as disclosedin Figures 10 to 13- inclusive-0f the drawings is adaptable for use in landing gear of an aircraft and such adaptation is disclosed in said Figure 10.

- The windlass 85 has its axle ll provided with fiat faced ends 82 for accommodating a cranking element, not shown, for effecting the turning of said Windlass at either end thereof.

The leg structure both in the preferred and modified forms can be utilized as a jack and also as an adjustable support and the preferred embodiment thereof is designed primarily for overhead use for electric or pneumatic drills or hammers, but can be used in other ways when the occasion arises.

From the foregoing description it is thought that the construction and manner of operation of the leg structure will be clearly understood and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination shock absorber and leg extension comprising an outervupper tubular sec-" of the holding screws, and a ratchet gear and pawl controlled Windlass externally fixed on the upper section and having the otherend of the cable fixed tosaid windlass for the winding of said cable on the said windlass or its unwindinil therefrom.

2. A combination shock absorber and leg extension comprising an outer upper tubular section open at opposite ends, an extensible section telescopically fitting the upper section through the open lowermost end thereof, a rest shoulder formed with saidextensible section, a pulley within said upper tubular section and movably supported, a yoke carrying said pulley, a stem on said vyoke and slidably fitted within the extensible section with the shoulder concentric to said stem, av coiled compression spring between the yoke and the said shoulder for yieldabllity of the pulley relative to the extensible section, a fitting interfitted with the lowermost end of the upper section and having holding screws passed therethrough. and detachably engaged in said upper section at the interfitting point of said fitting with the said upper section, a guide pulley supported, a yoke carrying said pulley, a stem on;

tion open at opposite ends, an extensible section I within said upper tubular section and movably supported, a yoke carrying said pulley, a stem on said yoke and slidably fitted within the extensible section with the shoulder concentric to said stem, a coiled compression spring between the yoke and the said shoulder for yieldability of they pulley relative to the extensible section, a' fitting interfitted with the lowermost end ofthe upper section and having holding screws passed therethrough and detachably engaged in said upper section at the inter-fittingpoint of said fitting with the .said upper section, a guide pulley icurnaled in said fitting, all adjustable cable trained over the first-named pulley and under the last-" named pull y and having'oneendiixcdtoone journaled in said fitting, an adjustable cable trained over the first-named pulley and under the last-named pulley and having one end fixed to one of the holding screws, a ratchet gear and pawl controlled windlass externally fixed on the upper section and having the other end of the cable fixed to saidwindlass for the winding of the open lowermost end thereof, a rest shoulder. formed with said extensible section, a pulley within said upper tubular section and movably said yoke and slidably fitted within the extensible section with the shoulder concentric m said stem. a coiled compression spring between the yoke and the said shoulder for yieldability of the pulley relative tothe extensible section, a fitting inter fitted with the lowermost end of the upper section and having holding screws passed therethrough and detachably engaged in said-upper section at the interiitting point of said fittini with the said upper section, a guide pulley Journal'ed in said fitting,an adiustable cable trained over the first-named pulley and under the lastnamed pulley and having one end fixed toone of the holding screws, a ratchet gear and pawl controlled Windlass externally fixed on the upper section and having the other end ofthe cablefixed t0 881d windlass 1'01 the winding of'said cable on the said windlass or its unwinding therefrom, a ground contacting element fitting the lowermost end of the extension section, the I said fitting interfitte'dwith the lowermost end of the upper section being in snug embracing relation to the extensible section, and a' reversible 

